NFL quarterback Tim Tebow to be part of a May 4 satellite leadership seminar ... - Michigan Business Review - MLive.com

William Philpott / Associated PressA devout Christian, New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, shown at an Easter service Sunday in Georgetown, Texas, is to be a featured speaker at a May 4 satellite training seminar available in Kalamazoo.

KALAMAZOO, MI â€" Business leaders will be able to have a little Tebow Time soon in Kalamazoo.

At least they’ll be able to be a part of a satellite uplink with the NFL quarterback.

That will occur during a one-day leadership training event on May 4 that will be broadcast live via satellite from Atlanta to Kalamazoo and many other cities.

The 2012 Chick-fil-A Leadercast: “The Choices You Make Define the Leader You Become,” is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 4, at Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center.

Tebow's transition from being a Heisman Trophy-winning college football star to his struggles at making his mark in the National Football League have been a top sports story this past year. A devout Christian, his clean-cut style and enthusiasm -- he takes a knee and prays when his team scores -- has also helped push that into the popular limelight.

He will be among the featured speakers at the event, along with CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien, former University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer and others.

The Leadercast is being sponsored in Kalamazoo by regional economic development firm Southwest Michigan First. It is to be hosted by Integrated Play, a Kalamazoo-based business facilitation and consultancy. 

Who should attend?

"People who are interested in seeing what the leaders of today have to do to make us leaders instead of followers," said Renee Shull, CEO of Inegrated Play. She said that includes supervisors, managers, directors, vice president, CEOs and "anyone who wants to take their business to the next level."

The Chick-fil-A Leadercast training seminars were started in 2000 as John Maxwell, a leadership expert and author of “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" sought to establish an affordable leadership training program accessible to many people. With the sponsorship of Chic-fil-A, the Georgia-based chain of quick-chicken restaurants, he started the Leadercast.

According to information provided by the organizations involved, the 2012 program is expected to focus on the power of choice and how choices made by a leader defines his or her leadership style “and contributes to making a positive impact on workers, organizations, and communities and beyond..

The costs to attend ranges from about $59 per person (group rate) to about $75 per person (individually). To sponsor a "future generation leader," a student, the cost is about $90.  Registration is available at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2406024484.

Ron Kitchens, chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First, is to try to inspire participants to find their path to leadership. He is to be the lunchtime speaker at the event.

“Through our Catalyst Leadership Series, Southwest Michigan First encourages the development of leaders in all organizations at all levels with complete respect to diversity,” Kitchens said in a press release. “If everyone in an organization is encouraged to be a leader, success is only inches away. We continually encourage aspiring leaders to attend events like the Chick-fil-A Leadercast where they can gain knowledge and inspiration from a variety of thought leaders.”

Contact Al Jones at ajones5@mlive.com and 269-365-7187.